France Fun For All

9 de September de 2012

France is one of the worlds most visited countries recognized for its wondeful romantic flavour. The French Riviera offers white sandy beaches, turquoise water and impressive rock formations along the coastline. The Alps are known to offer the best ski slopes in the world, and the summer presents great hiking adventures. Experience the famous cuisine and if you dare, try their two famous delicacies: frog legs and snails. As wine is a huge part of the French culture, be sure to try the red, white or sparkling varieties.

Climate

France has a varied climate. The Alps in the east has mild summers and long, cold winters lasting for over six months, which makes it a paradise for skiing. The Atlantic sea is running along the entire east coast, which creates a high level of rainfall throughout the year. The regions along the east coast have mild summers and winters. The Mediterranean “Riviera” in the southeast experiences hot summers and mild winters, which makes it a very popular destination for tourists all year round.

Sightseeing and Touring Suggestions

  • Paris, the capital of France is one of the world’s most visited cities. Visit the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Basilica of the Sacré Cœur in Montmartre, the Moulin Rouge, and the Palace of Versailles, just to mention a few of the magnificent sites Paris has to offer. Take a stroll along one of the most famous streets in the world, the Avenue des Champs-Élysées. A must while you’re in Paris is to visit the Louvre to see some of the most renowned artefacts in the world. And of course visit the Eiffel Tower and grasp the astonishing views over Paris.
  • Nice: One of the oldest cities in the world and part of “the French Riviera”. Nice is well known for the long boardwalk Promenades des Anglais and all of the beaches along it. Visit the small villages surrounding the city, for example Eze where you can find one of the most famous perfumeries in the region. The two museums of Chagall and Matisse are popular attractions. Take a day trip to visit Cannes, and if you are in time for the film festival you might get a glimpse of a movie star.
  • Other places to visit: France has a terrific selection of places definitely worth visiting, including hundreds of vineyards, beautiful villages and châteaux’s with breath taking landscape and views that seem to last forever. Visit the Champagne wine region, the historic region of Normandy and the Alps for its skiing. Also, the island of Mont Saint Michel is on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites, which 05/be worth visiting.

Culture and Religion

The main religion in France is Christianity and most of the population are Catholics. France has got 37 sites entered in the UNESCO´s World Heritage List and is worldwide renowned for its rich cultural diversity.Some might say that it is the centre of culture. “Haute couture” and arts are two important industries in France.

The French etiquette for meeting people includes greeting each other with a kiss on each cheek, but if you are not that well acquainted with the person you should address the individual using their family name and title Monsieur or Madame.

Embassy and Emergency info

The Australian embassy is located in Paris:

4, rue Jean Rey 75015 Paris Métro Ligne 6 Station Bir-Hakeim RER C Station Champ de Mars-Tour Eiffel

Telephone: + 33 (0)1 40 59 33 00. Fax : 01 40 59 33 10.

Opening hours: from 09:00 to 17:00, from Monday to Friday.

Emergency number: 112

InsureandGo also provide 24 hour emergency assistance for your convenience.

Electricity

The electricity supply in France is 230 V and 50Hz, which is a different plug to the one used in Australia. The main types are C and E (*plugs images from wikimedia).

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